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Izithunywa Ezivela EBhabhiloni
1 Ngalesosikhathi uMerodakhi-Bhaladani indodana kaBhaladani inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, wathumela izincwadi lesipho kuHezekhiya, ngoba wayezwile ngokugula kwakhe lokusila kwakhe. 2 UHezekhiya wazamukela izithunywa ngokuthaba, wazitshengisa okwakusendlini yakhe yokugcinela impahla, isiliva, igolide, iziyoliso, amafutha acengekileyo, izikhali zakhe zonke, lakho konke okwakukhona enothweni yakhe. Akulalutho esigodlweni sakhe loba embusweni wakhe wonke angazitshengisanga khona.
3 Ngakho u-Isaya umphrofethi waya kuHezekhiya inkosi wambuza wathi, “Atheni amadoda lawana, njalo avela ngaphi?”
UHezekhiya waphendula wathi, “Avela elizweni elikhatshana. Aze kimi evela eBhabhiloni.”
4 Umphrofethi wabuza wathi, “Aboneni esigodlweni sakho?”
UHezekhiya wathi, “Abone konke okusesigodlweni sami. Akulalutho phakathi kwempahla zami eziligugu engingawatshengisanga khona.”
5 Ngakho u-Isaya wasesithi kuHezekhiya, “Zwana ilizwi likaThixo uSomandla lithi: 6 Isikhathi sizafika sibili lapho konke okusesigodlweni sakho lakho konke oyihlo abakugcinayo kusiyafika lolosuku, kuzathwalelwa eBhabhiloni. Akuyikusala lutho, kutsho uThixo. 7 Njalo abanye besizukulwane sakho, abenyama legazi lakho, abazazalwa nguwe, bazathathwa bayekuba ngabathenwa esigodlweni senkosi yaseBhabhiloni.”
8 UHezekhiya waphendula wathi, “Ilizwi likaThixo olikhulumileyo lilungile.” Ngoba wayenakana esithi, “Kuzakuba lokuthula lokuvikeleka ekuphileni kwami.”